Device for locating submerged bodies



July 3, 1928.

C. G. WEINREICH DEVICE FOR LOCATING SUBMERGED BODIES Filed April 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet July 3, 192s.

1,675,965 c. G. wElNREIcH DEVICE FOR LOCATING SUBMERGED BODIES Filed April 25, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTOR'Z v /BYsZ/zrch.

Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHRIST G. WEINREICH, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR LOCATING SUBMERGED BODIES.4

p'plicaton filed April 25, 1927.

This invention relates to a device for locating submerged bodies.

The object of the invention is first, the provision of a vertically movable lamp and reflector carried within a tubular member; second, the provision of means for holding the lamp and reflector at any desired elevation within the tubular member; third, the provision of means vfor closing the upper openings` in the tubular member should water enter the tubular member; fourth, the provision of means for connecting ay light and an observation tube to the bottom of the hull of a watercraft having light and sight openings therein; fifth, the provision of means for automatically closing the upper sight openings of the observation tube should the tube be filled with water entering from the lower end thereof; and, sixth, the provision of means for manually closing the light and sight openings in the bottom of the hull of the watercraft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for locating submerged bodies which possesses advantages in points of simplicity and efficiency, and,

at the same time proves itself comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture.

Vith the above and Yother objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully de# scribed and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication, wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is'a vertical sectional elevation of a Vdevice embodying the features of my invention, and, it is shown as fixed, or applied to the hull of a submarine, or other watercraft f Fig. 2, is atop plan view thereof.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the `device as applied to and ydepending from a buoyant body.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a portion of the bottom of the hull of a boat,ship, or other suitable watercraft, which is provided with a light opening 2.andV an adjacent sight opening 3, which openings are open while searching, scientific, or other investigations are being made under water, and which openings are simultaneously closed by means of the ex- Serial No. 186,337.

terior closure plate 4 when investigations are not being made. The closure plate et 1s actuated or rotated through the medium of the shaft 5 having a handle (3. rlhe shaft 5 is fixed at its lower end to the plate el and is supported above the plate a in a suitable bearing member 7 forming a part or carried by and within the bottom 1 of the hull.

The bottom 1 of the hull is provided with the adjacent screw threaded recesses 8 and 9 which are concentric with the light and sight openings 2 and 3, respectively, and which provide the rest shoulders 10 and 11, respectively. A light, or lamp tube 13 consisting of one or more suit-abley cylindrical. tube sections 14 which are united by a suitable coupling` member 15 when more than one tube section is einployechis seated at its lower end in the recess 8. The lower end of the light tube is provided with a flanged screw threaded gland member 16 and with an interior shoulder flange 17 between which flange and gland member is positioned a suitable flat transparent window 18. The tube 13 is held from upward and lateral displacement by means of a. gland member 19 which encircles the tube l3\and also has screw threaded connection with the recess S above the flanged gland 10. The lupper end of the tube 13 is provided with a closure cap 19 which is provided with a centrally arranged swivel sleeve 20 having an opening 21. The sleeve 20 is provided with a closure plate 22 which engages the inner face of the cap for closing an opening 23 in the cap 19 should the window 18 be broken from any cause while the boat is submerged, thus preventing the inrush of wateninto the interior of the boat from the tube 13. To prevent water from finding its way through the sleeve 20, it is provided with a boss having a conical seat 24 into which can be seated a tapered projection 25 carried by a fixture 26 within the tube 13. A suitable cable 2T is Vcarried upon a reel drum 28, which drum is revolubly mounted in the bearings 29 which are fixed to the closure cap 19. The cable 27 passes from the rotatable reel drum 28 downwardly through the sleeve 20 and has suitable connection with the` fixture member 26 for lowering and raising a light within the tube 13. The reel shaft 30 is provided with a ratchet wheel 31 and one of the bearings 29 is provided with a. dog 32 for engaging the ratchet wheel te hold the light within the ber 43.

tube 13 at any desired elevation therein. The reel shaft 30 is provided with a suitable handle 33 for revolving the reel drum 28.

The lamp within the tube 13 consists of a suitably shaped tubular reflector body 34 having an upwardly directed and contracted neck section 35 provided in its upper wall with a square central opening 36 to receive. the( square portion 37 of a screw threaded shank 38 extending from the socket member 39 which carries a suitable candle powered electric bulb 40. The shank 38 has screw threaded connection with the fixture member 26 for supporting the socket 39 and the reflector 34. The lower end of the reflector is provided with a removable and reversible lens 41Ihaving one curved face to spread the light rays when desired, and with-a flat face todirect the light rays to a point if desired. The lens 41 is held between a reflector flange 42 and a removable ring mem- The wall of the refiector 34 is-provided with a pluralit-y of cold air inlet openings 44 and the neck portion thereof is provided with a plurality of circulating warm air outlet openings 45 so as to keep the lamp cool. A short conductorfcable connect-ion 46 extends from the socket 39 to a separable connection 47 from which extends additional conductor cable 48 which passes through opening 23. This connection 47 permits of the cable being separated should the window 9.118 be broken allowing the short end 46 to be dropped into the tube to allow the closure plate 22 to move to close the opening 23.

Arranged in spaced parallel relation with Y the lamp tube is a sight or observation tube 49 consisting of one or more suitable cylindrical sections 50 which are united by a Vsuitv p a suitable flat transparent window 54.

able coupling member 51 when more than one tube section is employed. The tube 49 is seated atits lower end in the recess 9 of the hull `bottom 1. The lower end of the observation tube 49 yis provided with a flanged screw threaded gland 52 and with an interior shoulder flange 53 between which flange 53 and gland member 52 is positioied he tube 49 is held'from upward and lateral displacement by means of a gland member 55 which encircles the tube and which also has screw threaded connection with the recess 9 above the flanged gland 52. vThe upper end of the tube 49 is provided with a closure cap 55whic'h is provided with a pair of open* ings to receive the lower ends of the sight tubes V56 and 57 which are connected by means of a connecting' member 58 which is secured to the cap 55 by means of a suitable fastening device 59. Pivotally connected within the tube 49 below the cap 55 are a pair of closure plates designated 60 and 61 which `will automatically raise 'by the inrushing 54be broken from any cause while aboat is submerged, thus preventing the water rushing into the observation tube 49 from esca-ping into the boat through the sight tubes 56 and'57. Y

In operation: l l

The operator first turns the shutter or closure plate 4 so as-to uncover the lower sight openings 2 and 3 of the tubes 13 and 49. He then lights the lamp'40 and looks downwardly through the observation tube 49 through'the upper siglitopenings 56 and 57 and the lower sight opening 3. Assuming that the light is in the upper end of the light tube 13 and the light rays therefrom do not penetrate the water far enough, the operator lowers the lamp and reflector to the desired elevation within the light tube until the observer can see the article or body to be inspectedby observation.

In Figure 3 of the drawings, I have shown the tubes 13 and 49, as strapped together by the connecting members 62 and supported by and depending into the water from a suitable floatingfbody 1. The tubes 13 and 49 as shown in F ig. 1, do notsubmerge into the water, but are within the-hull, whereas in Fig. 3, thetubes `are shown as directly7 submerged into the water.

I'do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the 'exact details of construction shown and described, but desireto have it understood that the invention I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the exact construction and particular arrangement of parts without de-v parting from the spirit of my invention, hence I reserve the rights to make any such changes, or modifications as may fairly fall within .the scope of the appendedl claims when fairly construed.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with the hull-fof a watercraft having a light opening and a sight opening therein, a tube supported by the .hull in alignment with the light opening therein, a vertically movable reflector within the light tube, a lens carried by the lower end of the reflector, an electriclamp within the reflector, a transparent window removably carried within thelowe'r end ofthe light tube, `cable openings within the Yupper end of said tube, means for closing said open-v ings, an observation tube supported bythe hull in alignment with the sight opening therein, sight openings in the uppery end of said tube and means for automatically closing said upper `sight openings should the observation tube be accidentally filled with water.

2. In a device of the class described, Vin combination with the hull of a watercraft having a light opening and a sightopening therein, means for opening and closing said openings, a screw threaded recess formed in the hull above each opening therein, a tube seated in the recess above 'said light opening, a gland for holding` the tube against displacement, a revoluble member, means to p event rotation of said member, a cable Wound around said member and entering said tube a reflector connected to said cable, a lens carried by said reflector, an electric lamp bulb carried Within said reiiector, a separable conductor leading to said lamp bulb and passing through the upper end of said tube through an opening' therein, means for closing said opening when the cable is separated, an observation tube seated in the recess above said sight opening in the hull, a gland retaining the observation tube against displacement, said tube having sight openings in its upper end and means for closing said openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHRIST G. VVEINREICH. 

